Robot Provides Virtual Presence at 2012 CES (Pt 1)

Ned Semonite, vice president of products at VGo Communications explains the company’s robotic telepresence product at the 2012 International CES (Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas. Freescale’s pressure sensors and accelerometers are used in the design of the robot as well as proximity sensors to detect stairs or potential collisions and a camera to view the surroundings in the remote location.

To watch the video, click here.

For more information about VGo products and services, click here.

For more information about Freescale Semiconductor’s acceleration sensors, click here

and pressure sensors, click here.

Hydrogen Pressure Sensor for Fuel-Cell Vehicles

Fuel-cell vehicles are among the automotive industry’s research efforts to reduce the dependence on petroleum. Monitoring the high pressure in the hydrogen storage tank(s) for a minimum of 10 year life expectancy is just one of the challenges in bringing these vehicles to volume production. With it’s recently introduced AST 2000H2 Hydrogen ASIC Pressure Sensor, American Sensor Technologies thinks this is one problem area that has been solved. The sensor is already certified for use by European and Asian automobile manufacturers as on-board hydrogen sensors for fuel cell vehicles. Anticipated volume production for these vehicles will begin in the 2014/2015 timeframe.

Exposure to hydrogen can result in hydrogen embrittlement in metals, especially high strength steel. To reduce the chance of embrittlement caused by long-term exposure to hydrogen, AST 2000H2 sensors are constructed from a version of high strength 316L stainless steel wetted parts that promote long life and resistance to media corrosion. In addition, the company’s proprietary Krystal Bond Technology that utilizes inorganic bond, free from glue line failure and outgassing reduces long-term drift to just 0.25% per year.

For more information about American Sensor Technologies’ AST 2000H2 Hydrogen ASIC Pressure Sensor, click here.

MEMS IMU Delivers 10-Degree-of-Freedom Capability

Today, there are several sources for six degrees of freedom (DoF) sensors. However, when 6DoF is not enough, the newest solution from Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI) may be the answer. The ADIS16488 is a 10-DoF sensor that integrates a tri-axis gyroscope, tri-axis accelerometer, tri-axis
magnetometer and a pressure sensor into a single package. Based on microelectromechanical system (MEMS) technology, the four different sensors not only fit into a 66.04x 64.77×14-mm package, they provide high performance and stability.

With bias stability of less than 10 degrees/hr), other inertial measurement unit (IMU) parameters include:

• Triaxial, digital gyroscope with digital range
  scaling,  ±450°/sec dynamic range
• Triaxial, digital accelerometer, ±18 g
• Triaxial, delta-angle and delta velocity outputs
• Triaxial, digital magnetometer, ±2.5 gauss
• Digital pressure sensor, 300 mbar to 1100 mbar

For more information about Analog Devices ADIS16488 10-degree-of-freedom sensor, click here.

Measure Pressures as Low as 0 to 2-In H2O

Measuring low pressures cost effectively is always a tricky proposition. The MS4515 Series of pressure sensors is a ceramic-based, PCB-mount design that uses CMOS signal conditioning circuitry to create a low cost, high performance sensor. Units are available in various calibration ranges between 0-2” H2O up to 0-30” H2O.

The analog version, MS4515, has a ratiometric voltage output while the MS4515DO provides a 14-bit digital output for pressure and a 11-bit output for temperature in an I2C or SPI protocol.

Available with single or dual side ports, top ports or manifold mount in a gauge or differential configuration, the sensor has 1/8-in barbed pressure ports to mate securely with 3/32-in ID tubing.

For more information about the MS4515 Series of analog output pressure sensors, click here.

For more information about the MS4515DO Series of digital output pressure sensors, click here.

Pressure Indicating Sensor Film

Typical measurement systems average or provide a point measurement. So how can you quickly observe the pressure distribution across an entire surface in applications such as the interface pressure of gaskets, clamps, heat sealing elements, composite layups, LCD panels, and heat sinks?  One answer is Fuji Prescale, a Mylar tactile pressure indicating sensor film. Simply placing the 4 to 8-mil thick film between two surfaces and then applying the normal or other desired measurement criteria (max, min, overstress, etc.) pressure produces a permanent color change directly proportionate to the pressure. Since the color change is permanent, it can be archived for future reference. A range of pressure sensitive films are available from 7.2 to 43,200 psi.

For more information about Fuji Prescale sensor film from Sensor Products Inc., click here.

Pressure Sensors Handle Liquid Media

Applications for silicon-based pressure sensors in low cost plastic packages are usually limited to air and dry gases without adding some form of additional media isolation. For Honeywell’s TruStability Pressure Sensors, an option now allows connecting one port of the sensor to condensing humidity or non-corrosive liquid media, such as de-ionized water. This simplifies the use of the HSC (High Accuracy Silicon Ceramic) Series and the SSC (Standard Accuracy Silicon Ceramic) Series in this family.

Both the HSC and SSC Series are temperature compensated, calibrated, and provide an amplified signal. The HSC Series has a ±1% total error band specification across a 0°C to 50°C [32°F to 122°F] temperature range. The SSC Series provides a ±2% total error band specification across a wider -20°C to 85°C [-4°F to 185°F] temperature range.

For more information about Honeywell’s TruStability Pressure Sensors, click here.

Measure Industrial Differential Line Pressures up to 2,000 PSI

It’s amazing how much information a sensor’s package conveys regarding its application. American Sensor Technologies, Inc. (AST) AST5400 screams industrial, high pressure. In fact, the wet / wet differential pressure sensor can measure line pressures up to 2,000 PSI. With microelectromechanical system (MEMS) technology as the sensing mechanism, the package uses Krystal Bond Technology to avoid silicone oil, O-rings or welds. 

To measure differential pressure across a filter, monitor level in a sealed or vented tank, or calculate flow across an orifice plate, the sensor has turndown ratio of 15 to 1 and can be used in place of two gauge pressure sensors.

For more information the AST5400, click here.

High Temperature Pressure Sensor Targets Gas Turbine Monitoring

Most pressure sensors are offered in plastic packages and operate in a maximum ambient temperature of 125°C or less. Monitoring the pressure of a gas turbine requires a totally different approach. IMI Sensors Series 176 pressure sensors use  a stainless steel housing and piezoelectric sensing technology to tolerate the extreme heat environment (+986°F, +530°C) generated by  gas turbines. As a result, the units can be mounted directly to the combustor. The sensors have sensitivities to 17 pC/psi (2.5 pC/kPa) and ranges from 20 psi (140 kPa) dynamic to 400 psi (2760 kPa) static.

For more information on the IMI Sensors Series 176 pressure sensor click here.

Embedded Pressure Sensor Addresses Variable Air Volume (VAV) in Wireless System

Here is an interesting application of pressure sensors in a wireless environment. CAN2GO’s Variable Air Volume (VAV) building automation controller has an on-board pressure sensor and is capable of bidirectional communication with EnOcean and wired end-devices. EnOcean is rapidly becoming the defacto standard for wireless building automation.

The controller features an embedded EnOcean transceiver and EnOcean-to-BACnet gateway, allowing total wireless control of energy harvesting end-devices within an end-to-end BACnet system. Extending the reach of centralized building automation systems, the VAV controller is a fully-programmable device.  The pressure sensor is used as a delta-P flow sensor. It has a measurement range of -500 to 500 Pa (-2 to +2 inch H₂O) and an accuracy of 3% m.v.  The CAN2GO controller can act either as a stand-alone product or be integrated into a larger BACnet system.

For more information on the CAN2GO VAV building automation controller click here.

How Pressure Sensors Can Help Your Golf Swing

Sensosolutions SensoGlove embeds four tiny pressure sensors into a golf glove to analyze the pressure that the golfer is exerting during his/her swing. Contrary to natural instinct, an excessively tight grip does not usually provide the expected results. To achieve the right amount of pressure, a target pressure level from 1-to-18 can be set and a 1.2-inch LED display on the glove displays the actual pressure and warns if it is exceeded. Audio and visual feedback is provided 80 times per second. The sensors are located to show the user which fingers are gripping too tightly, so the grip can be adjusted accordingly.

For more information about the technology (or ordering) Sensosolutions SensoGlove, click here.

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